Sky Odyssey - PS2

Sony's Sky Odyssey for the PS2 is an extensive flight simulator, similar to PilotWings on the Nintendo 64. Anyone who has played Pilot Wings will realise that this is good news. Many pilots have heard about the lost tower of Maximus, It’s secrets are legendary. Unfortunately, it is extremely dangerous and difficult to get to. All of the pilots that have previously attempted to find the tower have never returned. Do you think that you can you can accomplish the impossible?

To start with, it’s a good idea for flying fans to try the training mode. This is a good opportunity to hone your skills in Free Flight before trying your hand at Target mode or painting the sky in Sky Canvas mode.

The aim of Target mode is to hit as many floating targets as possible in the in the shortest time. Sky Canvas gives you a smoke trail, in best Red Arrows style, and you use it to draw shapes in the sky, like an old-time sky-writer. You have certain shapes and letters to write and you only have a limited amount of time to fly through the rings. Sounds easy? It isn't, but it is fun!

Once you've proven your skills in the fun modes, it's time to try the game for real. Adventure Mode offers you forty missions over which to show you're made of pilot material. And the demanding landscape, made of water-jets, steep valleys and canyons with collapsing walls doesn't make things easy. It is going to take all of your skill as a pilot to successfully negotiate underground caverns, keep away from erupting volcanoes and refuel above a speeding train.

Later in Sky Odyssey you can earn new parts that you can use to customise your aircraft. You can change the appearance of your craft, and other attributes like speed and turning circle. At first you only have a handful of planes to choose from, such as the Bi-plane and WW2 fighter, but as you progress through the game, you can unlock more.

Sky Odyssey is a mixed kettle of fish visually speaking, some areas are overly detailed and others are depressingly bland. The textures aren’t up to much and there is a definite aliasing problem with the 3D objects. Still, it’s gameplay that matters and if you like games where you have to think and develop your piloting skills, Sky Odyssey is worth having a look at. Flight sims are not typically considered as console material, but Sky Odyssey is worthy of closer inspection. One of the best PS2 flight simulation games to date! more